Ore-concentrator



3 Sheets-Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

0. H. VOLL. ORE GONGENTRATOR.

Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

N PETERS, Pholn-Lflhngmphcr. Washmglan. 11c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. VOLL.

ORE CONGENTRATOR.

310,416,021. Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

NV PETERS, PhokrLllhognpher. Washington. 0.0.

( No Model.) 3 sneetssneet 3.

G. H. VOLL.

ORE GONUENTRATOR.

Patented Nov. 26, 1889.

N, PETERS. Phow-Lilhognphen Wuhmglcn. n, c.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. VOLL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,021, dated November 26, 1889.

Application filed November '7, 1888. Serial No. 290,249. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. VOLL of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Ore-Concentrators; and I'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that classof oreconcentrators in which an endless traveling table is employed, and it relates especially to that sub-class in which the concentratingtable consists of a blanket carried by an endless traveling bed. I

My invention consists in the novel construction and combination of devices which Ishall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings fora more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my concentrator. Fig. 2 is a plan of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the carrier-bed. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the bed-slats. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the adjusting mechanism for the foot of the machine. Fig. 6 is an e11- larged detail showing the means for ad j usting the inclination of the belt.

A is the frame of the machine, the head portion of which carries the shaft B, on each end of which, and within the frame-sides, are the large sprocket-wheels 0.

At the front of themachine, and mounted in the manner I shall presently describe, is the shaft D, which carries the sprocketwheels E.

F represents generally the endless traveling bed or carrier for the blanket G. The bed or carrier is composed of a number of connected parallel spaced or separated crossslats f, the upper surface of which is slightly curved to avoid injury to the blanket. These slats have enlarged heads or ends f, the illner face of which is upwardly and outwardly inclined at f These heads or ends f are wider than the body of the slat is thick and extend an equal distance on each side of the body of the slat. A central groove f is made in the base of each head or end, extending from the outside inwardly a short distance, though not entirely through the end or head, but sufficiently to form a bearing for the engagement of the teeth of the sprocketwvheels, ;The v heads or ends of the slats are connected by the links H, pivoted to each, each link extending from near the central plane of one head or end to near the central plane of the adjacent head or end. These connect firmly the whole of. the slats into an integral endless carrier or bed, the slats of which are separated, as shown. The blanket G lies upon these slats, and its sides 9 are inclined upwardly and outwardly 011 the inclined inner faces f of the heads or ends of the slats and lie on top of said heads or ends, where they are secured by means of a correspondinglybent plate I, which presses down upon the top of the blanket-sides and is held by a,

thumb-screw J, which passes into the head or end of the slat. This plate follows the inclined sides of the blanket to near its horizontal surface, where they curve outwardly slightly to avoid interference. Small teeth L- may be made upon the inner surface of said plate to engage and further hold the blanketsides.

K are sprocket-pulleys about the center of the frame and adapted to engage and support the center of the endless bed or carrier.

L are curved supporting guides or tracks secured to the frame of the machine below and extending centrally toward each other, though not meeting said tracks or guides bearing under the connecting-links II of the slat'heads. These tracks or guides are curved downwardly, so as to permit the lower portion of the bed or earlier to sag sufficiently to be carried into the usual body of water, (not necessary herein to show,) and by which the sulphurets 011 the surface of the belt are washed off.

A rotary motion is imparted to the endless bed or carrier and its blanket by the following mechanism: On the end of the head-shaft B is apulley M, loose thereon. To this pulley is secured a gear 171, which meshes with a gear m'onashort shaft m which carries a worm mi. N is a shaft mounted longitudinally of the machine and carrying worms 92. side of each sprocket-wheel in the machine are formed or fixed gears O, with which the worms of the longitudinal shaft N engage. On said shaft, near its head, is a worm-gear Q,

On the with which the worm m of the short shaft 071 engages, thereby driving said shaft, which, through its worms and the worm-gears on the sprocket-wheels, drive said wheels, and thus impart a rotary motion to the endless bed or carrier. f

The sprocket-wheel shaft D at the foot or tail of the machine is so mounted in the frame as to have a vertical adjustment therein, which adjustment is effected by the following means: The shaft is supported by legs P, the upper'ends of which are pivoted 011 the shaft, and said legs are in pairs and extend in different directions downwardly and in the direction of the length of the machine. Mounted in the frame below and on each side are longitudinal screws R, having each threads, which mesh with toothed racks p on the lower ends of the legs P, said lower ends being guided by tracks 1'). On each of the screws is a pinion S, with which mesh wormst on the cross-shaft T, which has a suitable crank-handle t. Now by turning this shaft it transmits motion through the worms t to the pinions S, thereby rotating the screws B. These screws have no other motion than a rotary one, and, engaging with their reversed threads the rack bases or feet 13 of the legs P, they move said feet closer to or farther from each other, according to the direction of the rotation of the screws. WVhen the legs are moved farther from each other, it is obvious that they are lowered, and when they move closer together they are raised. This movement of the legs therefore raises and lowers the foot-shaft D of the machine, and thereby raises and lowers the lower end of the endless carrier or bed, which turns about its head-shaft B as a center, and may thus have its inclination properly fixed at any angle.

U is a fixed plate lying just under the upper portion of the traveling bed or carrier, and following the curvature of its ends for a given distance over the end shafts, but without touching them.

In putting the blanket onto the bed in the first instance it is attached at one end of said bed. The latter is then moved along, and the blanket is successively attached to each slat-head at the end of the bed until it is secured throughout its entire extent. The object of putting it on inv this manner is to give it the greatest stretch between each slat, which of course is at the end of the machine, and therefore, as the slats come closer together when traveling in ahorizontal plane, the blanket is bunched up to assist in forming the necessary riffles. Now it will be seen from this construction that the bed or carrier is perfectly rigid and firm transversely, being made strong enough in its slats and having the heavy enlarged ends jointed together by the links H, and thus the entire bed is rendered sufficiently stiff for the purpose. The weight of the pulp upon said blanket, therefore, has no tendency to cause said reversed blanket tosag laterally, but it remains in a perfectly level or straight plane in this direction; but the blanket itself sags, as usual, between the slats, thus forming the riffled surface essential to this class of concentrators. The tracks or guides L below support the sag of the lower portion of the bed, thus allowing only the very central lower portion to pass through the water as it sags down into it.

The engagement of the teeth of the sprocket-wheels with the notches on the edges of the slats is a very positive one and is strong and du able.

The attachment of the blanket to the inclined inner surfaces f of the heads f of the slats gives it the proper inclination at its sides, and holds it firmly in all positions of the carriera result which is further assisted by the securing-plate I on top of the sides, which holds them down positively to their seats, no matter whether the blanket is traveling above or below.

There is of course in this machine aproper water and pulp distributer, to be located over the blanket, as in machines of this class, near the head, whereby the pulp and water are discharged upon the blanket, the sulphurets and heavier precious particles clinging to the surface of the blanket and being carried upwardly over the head of the machine and washed off in the body of water below, while the lighter and worthless particles are carried down and discharged over the foot of the machine by the flow of the water. and water distributers I have deemed it unnecessary herein to show, as they are common devices and will be readily understood.

It is the intention in the operation of this machine to use a large quantity of water, a result which can be effected by the use of a blanket, and is assisted by the plate U, which is under the upper fold of the carrier and serves as a temporary bottom for a small though ever-varying body of water, through which the top of the belt may be said to pass.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an ore-concentrator, the endless bed for supporting and carrying the blanket, composed of rigid spaced or separated slats having heads or ends connected by pivoted links, said heads or ends having notches in their bases, in combination with sprocket-wheels engaging the notches, whereby the bed is driven, substantially as herein described.

2. In an ore-concentrator, the endless traveling bed for supporting and carrying the blanket, composed of rigid separated or spaced slats having enlarged heads or ends with inclined inner surfaces for inclining the sides of the blanket, said heads or ends being connected by pivoted links and having notches in their bases, in combination with sprocketwheels engaging the notches, whereby the bed is driven, substantially as herein described.

3. In an ore-concentrator, the endless trav- These pulp.

eling bed composed of stiff or rigid separated or spaced slats with enlarged inclined connected heads or ends, as described, in co1nbination with the blanket supported upon the slats and having its sides supported upon the inclined surfaces, and the tops of the heads or ends of the slats and the correspondinglybent plates pinned down on top of the sides of the blanket to hold it in place, substantially as herein described.

4. In an ore-concentrator, the endless traveling bed and the blanket carried thereby, in combination with the sprocket-wheels for driving the bed and the mechanism for operating the sprocket-wheels, consisting of the longitudinal shaft having the worms, the gears on the sides of the sprocket-wheels, with which the worms engage, the driving-pulley M, having the gear m, the short shaft m having the gear m, meshing with the gear m and the Worm m and the worm-gear Q on the longitudinal shaft, with which the worm-gear m engages, substantially as herein described.

5. In an ore-concentrator, the endless traveling bed and the blanket supported and carried thereby, in combination with the fixed head-shaft, the vertically-movable foot-shaft, and the means for adjusting said foot-shaft, consisting of the separated supportin g-legs P, pivoted on said shaft and having sliding rackfeet, the screws with reverse threads engaging said rack-feet and having pinions, and the cross-shaft with worm-gears engaging the pinions, substantially as herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES H. VOLL. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, J. H. BLOOD. 

